When you visit Tissamaharama (Tissa) – By Harold Gunatillake
Website:www.Doctorharold.com
Yala is home to majestic creatures— playful elephants, elusive leopards, and a symphony of bird calls. Each sighting is a heart-pounding moment, a pure and profound connection with nature.”
“Welcome back, adventurers! Today, we’re embarking on a thrilling journey to the wild heart of Sri Lanka—Yala National Park, a sanctuary where the jungle meets the ocean, and Tissamaharama, a town steeped in history and the gateway to Yala’s wilderness.”
Our journey from Kandy to Ella, via the Victoria Dam Road through Badulla, was pleasant. We found solace in the comfortable embrace of the Oak Ray Gap Hotel, where we spent a restful night. Our adventure begins with a scenic drive to Tissamaharama, affectionately known as Tissa. While some may overlook this town, it’s the perfect staging ground for our safari, offering a glimpse into the local life and culture.”
As we continued our adventure the next day, travelling to Tissa via the winding Wellawaya Road, the anticipation for our visit to the renowned Yala National Park grew. The journey, a downhill drive of about an hour and a half from Ella, was punctuated by breathtaking scenery on the left that left us in awe We checked into a charming hotel, Oak Ray Wild Elephant Hotel, marked by delightful moments. Here, we will rest and prepare for the early morning safari, ensuring we are energised for the day ahead. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a refreshing cold face towel a much-needed relief from the heat. A delicious icy melon drink, a perfect start to our stay, followed this Upon our arrival at the Oak Ray Wild Elephant Hotel, we were greeted by GM Garad Crooze’s warm smile and heartfelt welcome. The staff’s eloquent English and courteous demeanour made us feel genuinely valued.
The rooms were spacious and most comfortable. Let me take you on a tour of the hotel so you can see it and decide if you like it. As dawn breaks, we set off on our full-day safari, eyes wide with anticipation. Yala’s landscape is a tapestry of red earth, lush jungles, and sparkling lakes—a haven for wildlife.” It took about 20 minutes to reach the park on the safari jeep, with a speed limit of 35/hour.
At this stage, I would like to let you know a few things for your guidance. If you have a local ID card, you must carry it to pay the local entrance ticket rate, which is Rs 500. If you have a foreign passport, it costs Rs 9,000. The Safari jeep we hired for 3 hours cost us Rs 30,000. That’s until 10 a.m.; we must be out according to the regulations. The guide also had to be paid separately. The guide was charming and took us to the spots where we could see wild animals. One place had giant trees, unlike the other areas with bony trees. We were lucky to see the elusive leopard resting on a branch of a tree. It didn’t seem bothered by our presence and was resting on the branch unconcerned. We also saw elephants, peacocks, jungle fowl, and birds, some with long curved beaks. There was massive, extensive construction of office rooms, resting places, and eating open spaces with furniture. The toilets were okay, but you have to take paper and soap.
The jeep can go up to this spot where washrooms are. After a tired morning of exploration, we returned to Tissa, our hotel. A feast of local flavours awaits us, a culinary journey as exciting as our safari.” The GM Garad is also a Masterchef, and the flavours were ecstatic. After lunch, we had our siesta and returned to Kandy via Maiyangana and the seven hairpin bends. We reached Kandy after a 6-hour drive, doing over 250klm. Join us next time as we continue to uncover the wonders of Sri Lanka. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more adventures with us!
So, stay safe; goodbye until we meet again.
